A GROUP is applying for limited company status in a bid to serve the community better.

After 21 years, Pennywell Community Association, based at Pennywell Shopping Centre, Sunderland, hopes to become self-financing and increase local use.

The association has recruited a project development worker to oversee the changes, and will appoint a local steering group and board of directors to decide and manage its direction.

Project development worker Stuart Dexter said: "This area is full of inter agency partnerships working together to improve facilities and provision for local people.

"We felt that the best way of being part of this was by becoming a limited company."

As a limited company, the centre will be able to apply for funding from sources including the National Lottery and New Opportunities Fund. It will also be allowed to trade.

Community Association committee member Lilly Barber said: "I think we'd all agree it's time for the centre to move on and this is the way forward. "

It is expected that the limited company status will take effect this month.

"We want more people across the area to get involved with these changes at whatever level - as steering group members, volunteers or just by popping into the centre and telling us what they'd like to see."

We're the only facility of this type in the area and these changes mean we can really capitalise on tha